Omaha daily bee., 1887-01-13
THE INDIANA soUABBLE.
Lteutenant-Governor Robertson Files
Is.....-... L..


INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 12.--There was but
little dimlnution in the number of people at
the capitol this morning and the usual care
full scrutiny was maintained In admitting
visitors to the senate chamber. Drake, of the
republican minority, presented preamble
and resolution which democrat moved to
be rejected without reading. On this motion
the democratic majority divided, Weir,
Mcdonald and Barrett protesting against
such methods of procedure and insisting
that members of the senate had q right to
know what 1t was they were called upon to
vote. Weir asserted that the lieutenant gov
ernor-elect mad done nothing that he (Wcir)
would not have done under similar circum-
stances. Finally the motion TO reject without
reading was withdrawn. The pre-
amble recited that Lieutenant Cow
ernor Robertson was present and
having qualified was ready to perform the
duties of presiding officer of the senate. The
resolution provided for the appointment OF
q committee of two to escort him to his chair
The preamble and resolution were defeated
by party vote, Presiding Officer Smith not
voting. Winter of the minority will file
protest claiming that further occupancy of
the chair by Senator Smith as an uSurpation
of authority, and this will probably tend to
bolt,
After the rejection of Senator brakes reso-
luton to-day, Senator Campbell presented 10
the senate Lteutenant-Governor Robertson's
formal claim in writing to the Office of the
presidency of the senate as lieutenant gov
ernor, and 1t was read for information. 1t is
as follows:
TO the Indiana Senate-Gentlemen have
the honor to inform YOU that having taken
the oath of office, which is here attached,
governor of the state OF Indiana.
am able to attend your ses-
sions.. and ready to enter upon the
constitutional, functions prescribed in sec
tion of article of the state constitution,
to-wit: To be president of the senate with
all the rights and duties in said section pro-
yided; that you have in my judgment wrong
fully excluded and prevented me from in.
creasing that function OF the duty of my
office. Against this, your action do hereby
most earnestly protest and remonstrate, and
respectfully demand my rights.
X. ;. ROBERTSON, Lieutenant Governor.
A copy of the oath of office which had been
administered by Judge Walker was attached.
A motion TO reject prevailed by party vote.
Senator Winter announced that the repubi-
can minority would consider Colonel Rob
ertSon as lieutenant governor and Senator
Smith rs usurper in maintaining the office
of president of the senate, and the latter in
vited Senator Winter to test the matter in the
courts.
At a late hour this afternoon President
Pro TEN Smith fled quo warranto
proceedings against the lieutenant
governor-elect. The papers were
filed in the Marion circuit court and the
a. IN. tomorrow. Judge Ayers, before whom
Smiths complaint was filed, is the judge who
held that his court had no jurisdiction when
Smith sought to restrain the secretary of
state from transmitting the result of the
vote on lieutenant governor to the speaker of
the house. which ruling was sustained by the
supreme court. A speedy decision of the
present case is expected.